The New Hampshire Hospital Association says a federal court ruling last week means state budget writers owe hospitals $80 million on top of what the governor has already proposed. But the head of the house finance committee disagrees.

The Hospital Association won a victory against the federal government over how the feds calculate compensation hospitals get for carrying for patients without insurance or on Medicaid.

The local upshot is how much money the state needs to put in the budget to help hospitals cover those costs. Steve Ahnen, President of the Hospital Association, says the ruling means Governor Chris Sununu's proposal falls $80 million short of what the hospitals are owed.

"We're looking for assurances that the state will continue to meet its obligations," he says.

But in an interview with NHPR, House Finance Chairman Neal Kurk said the court ruling changes nothing - and that he doesn't see a reason to give hospitals more than what the governor proposed last month.

The Hospital Association and the state have battled in court over this issue for years, eventually reaching a settlement in 2014. If budget writers fall short of what the hospitals are expecting, the issue could be back in court.

Massachusetts' largest healthcare network has taken its first step into the New Hampshire health market by purchasing Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

Wentworth-Douglass in Dover and Mass. General Hospital in Boston have been clinical partners since 2008, and both say the acquisition will give the New Hampshire hospital access to more specialized doctors.

We sit down with Governor Chris Sununu. The new governor delivered his first budget on Thursday, boosting spending in many areas. We'll talk about that -- and about the Governor's plans for workforce development, reducing energy costs, and Medicaid expansion. We'll also get his take on President Trump's recent claims of widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire.

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Officials with the state University System are registering their disappointment with Governor Chris Sununu’s proposal not to increase state funding for New Hampshire’s public universities.

The University System of New Hampshire requested an increase of about 12 million dollars over the next two fiscal years. They said the increase would allow them to keep tuition flat for in-state students.